What is wrong with this picture?

If you don't get it, look again closely. Its a different motherfucking world in Pakistan compared to Oklahoma! .

"The pot is as high as an elephant's eye."

...
Note: Headline links to source. Clicking on image will enlarge it (usually).

Why Obama Is Ignoring Europe

I'm too fucking lazy to grab all the links, but it ain't only Europe.

Try Russia, China, Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Japan... ad nauseam.

Any instances where Obama has improved US relationships with foreign countries after Shrub's horrible administration he's pretty much pissed away by now.

There's an old (really) routine by Mort Sahl where he says the President is standing before a globe with all the trouble spots colored black. He continues, "So the President is standing in front of this black globe..."

Its all black out there, folks.

...
Note: Headline links to source.

Soldiers Admit Using "Drop Weapons" To Cover Up Killing Innocent Iraqi Civilians

This is sad. Not because they do it which has certain moral implications I'm allowed to contemplate because I'm not there, but because they feel they must. They don't intend for these incidents to happen I'm sure, but know the consequences of being exposed.

In the heat of battle...

Several soldiers who have returned from combat zones talk with the American News Project about what they say is the widespread practice of using "drop weapons" to cover up the killing of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. We feature five veterans and current members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, plus retired Lieutenant Colonel Gary Solis, a Vietnam War veteran and legal scholar who taught "Law of War" at West Point.

Didn't someone once say, "War is hell"? I thought so.

Criticism is oh so easy, but I've read accounts from troops in the Mid-East and it's never black or white. Its more on the order of kill or be killed and they make split second decisions that can mean living or dying.

This link includes video. Too much for my sick PC.

Note: Headline links to source.

U.S. Commander Orders Plans on Pakistan

But, but, but, Pakistan has said already they won't allow foreign troops to operate on Pakistani soil. They think these US forces actually won't fight? They're walking around with weapons and will be attacked. Give me a break.

I posted about the original story here and there's a link to the whole story.

- The commander of U.S. forces in Central Asia has launched planning for more extensive use of U.S. troops to train Pakistani armed forces, a senior defense official said Wednesday.

Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, issued a planning order, an internal instruction to lower-level commanders, to propose ideas for a long-term approach to helping Pakistan combat what has become an expanding, homegrown insurgency that threatens the stability of the government.

Fallon's intent is to develop new approaches to help Pakistan, with a time horizon stretching to 2015, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the order has not been made public.

A central assumption in the planning is that no such U.S. training contribution would be made without the Pakistani government's prior approval, the official said.
[emphasis mine].

Help 'em, huh?

DISCLAIMER: I'm not even suggesting one or both of those soldiers would return fire, although that wouldn't be too bright, or even be in the fucking country when more troops are brought in.

Its just a visual aid. I use visual aids often and many contain recognizable faces.

Via USNews.

Pakistan says won't let foreign troops on its soil

This should prove interesting theater considering Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is saying Pakistan isn't really looking for bin Laden (via AFP).

As we used to say, that ought to go over as well as a pregnant pole vaulter.

Pakistan will not allow any country to conduct military operations on its territory, officials said on Monday, rejecting a report that said the United States was considering authorising its forces to act in Pakistan.

The New York Times said on Sunday the U.S. government was considering expanding the authority of the CIA and the military to conduct far more aggressive covert operations in Pakistan.

The U.S. officials considering the move were concerned over intelligence reports that al Qaeda and the Taliban were more intent on destabilising Pakistan, the newspaper said.

Pakistani government and military officials dismissed the report and said Pakistan would not permit any such action.

"Pakistan's position in the war on terror has been very clear -- that any action on Pakistani soil will be taken only by Pakistani forces and Pakistani security agencies," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq.

"No other country will be allowed to carry out operations in Pakistan. This has been conveyed at the highest level," he said.

Which I posted about here and link to the whole story.

Via Reuters.

U.S. weighs new covert push in Pakistan - NY Times

It seems slightly preposterous this wasn't already happening.

Just how many other tools in the toolbox are not being used against al Qaeda and the Taleban?

Sort of makes me curious just how serious Dim Son is taking all this.

Senior U.S. officials, concerned over intelligence reports that al Qaeda and the Taliban are more intent on destabilizing Pakistan, are considering expanding the authority of the CIA and the military to conduct far more aggressive covert operations there, the New York Times said on Sunday.

Citing senior Bush administration officials who spoke off the record, the Times said that while no decisions had been made, the options under discussion included the CIA working with the military's Special Operations forces.

Several participants in a meeting on Friday argued that the threat to President Pervez Musharraf's government was now so acute that Musharraf and the country's military leadership were likely to grant Washington more latitude, the Times said.

Among those reported at the meeting were Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and top national security advisers to President George W. Bush.

Via Reuters.

Bhutto Report: US Terror Aid Used to Rig Elections

Is this true? Who the fuck knows. Its politics. Smoke and mirrors. Lies and obfuscation. Charges and denials. People with agendas. OK, I'll be straight here. It boils down to assholes.

That said, isn't it plausible?

It always seems to lead back to the fucking money.

On the day she was assassinated, Benazir Bhutto was due to meet two senior American politicians to show them a confidential report alleging that Pakistan's intelligence service was using US money to rig parliamentary elections, officials in her party said yesterday.

Via The Signs.

Pakistan

Jesus H Christ with no body guards, but does anyone sincerely believe Nawaz Sharif will not meet the same fate as Benazir Bhutto?

I fucking hate to be so negative, but I calls 'em as I sees 'em.

Lockheed gets $498 mn contract to sell F-16s to Pakistan

Congress? What's the fucking point? Just send 'em all home.

The US Defence Department has awarded a $498.2 million contract to Lockheed Martin Corp to supply 18 F-16 aircraft to Pakistan just ten days after the US Congress slapped restrictions on military aid to Islamabad.

Via Japan Herald.

Pakistani authorities release thousands of opposition supporters

Some good news for a change.

More than 3,000 people jailed under emergency rule have been released, the Interior Ministry said today, the latest sign that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was rolling back some of the harsher measures taken against his opponents.

OK. All is right with the world and oppression has been thwarted.

Oops. I think I spoke too fucking soon.

Headline: Pakistan: Free Judges Held Under House Arrest

Tell me something. I'm just too fucking dense. How do "free" and "under house arrest" equate? What am I missing here?

To me "free" means I can walk around my neighborhood, get a taco, have conversations with my friends, go to Starbucks®, solicit sex from an undercover police officer.

Oops, sorry. That last "soliciting" thing was a slip of the the ol' typing hands.

Well, at least they can go to bed in their favorite pajamas and hold their teddy bear.

Top Neocons Call for US to Invade Pakistan

It took a little longer than I expected, but the neocons are calling for the invasion of another country.

Jesus H Christ in Doc Martens, why can't these armchair generals just shut the fuck up?

Two experts have proposed that the US should take pre-emptive action to secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons before they fall into the wrong hands.

Frederick Kagan of the right-wing American Enterprise Institute and Michael O'Hanlon of the more liberal Brookings Institution argue in an article published in the New York Times on Sunday that the US simply cannot stand by as a nuclear-armed Pakistan descended into the abyss.

Via The Signs.

U.S. hopes to arm Pakistani tribes against Al Qaeda

Two things. One, this probably isn't going to come out well and two, of course they would promise to fight al-qaedo to get the money and arms. They aren't stupid.

A new and classified American military proposal outlines an intensified effort to enlist tribal leaders in the frontier areas of Pakistan in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, as part of a broader effort to bolster Pakistani forces against an expanding militancy, American military officials said.

If adopted, the proposal would join elements of a shift in strategy that would also be likely to expand the presence of American military trainers in Pakistan, directly finance a separate tribal paramilitary force that until now has proved largely ineffective and pay militias that agreed to fight Al Qaeda and foreign extremists, [emphasis mine] officials said. The United States now has only about 50 troops in Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman said, a force that could grow by dozens under the new approach.

The proposal is modeled in part on a similar effort by American forces in Anbar Province in Iraq that has been hailed as a great success [by Bush? -ed] in fighting foreign insurgents there. But it raises the question of whether such partnerships can be forged without a significant American military presence in Pakistan. And it is unclear whether enough support can be found among the tribes.

Arming these people because they're your "friends" today doesn't always work out too well. Al-Qaeda anyone?

Via IHT.

Bhutto Residence Encircled by Police to Stop Pakistan Rally

Uh, but Bush says Musharraf can be taken at his word. What the fuck am I missing here?

Thousands of Pakistani police surrounded opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's residence in the eastern city of Lahore and sealed roads with barbed wire to stop her leading a rally against emergency rule.

The government of Punjab province issued a seven-day detention order, placing her under house arrest at the residence where she is staying, Agence France-Presse reported.

"All banners, rallies and long marches are outlawed and are illegal," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem said by telephone from the capital, Islamabad, yesterday. "Those who break the law will be dealt with."

Via Boomberg.

Musharraf taking positive steps, says Bush

Damn I wish I could separate reality and what I want to believe as well as Dim Son. However, I don't suffer from cognitive dissonance to anywhere near the extent the idiot does.

President Bush says Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf has taken 'positive steps' by promising to lift the state of emergency, step down as army chief, and hold elections early next year.

No, Mr Dumber-than-a-paper-cup, Musharraf has said he will do those things. Next year is a long way off and he might likely change his mind and do none of them.

Via Japan Herald.

Aha! Here's what we know he is doing.

Headline: Pakistan army courts may try civilians

Pakistan's military ruler has amended a law to give sweeping powers to army courts to try civilians on charges such as treason and inciting public unrest, officials said Sunday as a key opposition leader prepared to stage a massive, 185-mile protest march in defiance of a ban.

The moves came one week after President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said he was imposing a state of emergency to help fight Islamic militancy. But the main targets of his crackdown so far have been his most outspoken critics, including the increasingly independent judiciary and media. Musharraf was to hold a press conference with international journalists later Sunday.

Pakistan eased the crackdown Saturday, releasing opposition leader Benazir Bhutto from house arrest. Musharraf - under pressure by the United States and other Western allies to return to the path of democracy - won praise for agreeing to lift the emergency within weeks and hold elections by Feb. 15, just one month later than originally scheduled.

Yeah, no doubt those are 'positive steps'.

Via AP.

Pakistan places Bhutto under house arrest

Update below.

Two things:

1. I expected at least this much would happen if not worse.

2. CNN is reporting Bhutto's supporters say it isn't true.

AFP is usually a pretty reliable source, but so is CNN. We'll just have to wait on this one.

Pakistan placed former premier Benazir Bhutto under house arrest on Friday, blocking her from a planned rally to protest President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of a state of emergency.

UPDATE: Well we didn't have to wait long.

Headline: Pakistan police surround Bhutto's home

Dozens of security forces surrounded opposition leader and former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's house Friday and cordoned off nearby streets, hours before a massive rally organized by her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) against the state of emergency was due to start, sources close to Bhutto told CNN.

Via AFP.

Musharraf Imposes Emergency Measures

Its not surprising Musharraf did this. Because he could. He had the power and people with power eventually use it.

The power of the US idiot is different, but no less effective. The FCC can shut down any media outlets Bush orders shut down. The phone companies can cut off all phones if ordered to by Bush. Signing statements negate Congress and Bush can just ignore the SCOTUS and has. The AG is in Bush's pocket and there's always the "enemy combatant" card, with renditions and disappearances. He also can declare marshal law at the drop of a hat.

As for controlling oil supplies and other energy sources...he doesn't have to. He's in their hip pockets.

He has the whole fucking package at his fingertips.

The only question is how many of these powers will Bush use in the next 13 months.

I've been kind to Hugo Chávez in Venezuela only because he hasn't as yet abused his power. But even Chávez has too much authority in my opinion and within time he'll abuse it.

Gen. Pervez Musharraf suspended Pakistan's constitution and deployed troops in the capital Saturday, declaring that rising Islamic extremism had forced him to take emergency measures. He also replaced the nation's chief justice and blacked out the independent media that refused to support him.

Authorities began rounding up opposition politicians, cut phone lines in the capital and took all but the state television station off air despite calls from Washington and other Western allies not to take authoritarian measures.

The U.S. called for Musharraf to restore democracy. However, the Pentagon said the emergency declaration does not affect U.S. military support for Pakistan and its efforts in the war on terrorism. Britain said it was deeply concerned. [emphasis mine]

It is nice to know the Pentagon won't let this little dust up affect US military support. Gotta keep them munitions flowing.

You may get from that last paragraph I still don't buy into the ol' war on terrorism meme.

Via AP.

Pakistani civilians flee after clashes kill 195

This is getting out of hand. Jesus H Christ with a laptop, what is happening in Pakistan? Is the whole Mid-East exploding?

Sorry, stupid question. the whole Mid-East is exploding, just not as fast as some would like.

Hundreds of people fled a Pakistani tribal town on Tuesday after some of the heaviest-ever clashes near the Afghan border left 150 militants and 45 soldiers dead, officials and witnesses said.

Via Agence France-Presse.

Taliban 'to bomb Bhutto when she returns'

Well, now Musharraf has his cover. If something happens to Bhutto, he can claim the Taliban did it.

Pakistani Taliban militants vowed to launch suicide bombers against Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister, when she returns home after eight years of self-imposed exile.

Via Telegraph.

Saudi to take Pakistan ex-PM Sharif back into exile

Now who amongst you had the naïve`t'e to not see this one coming? Pervez Musharraf would welcome a political contender back to Pakistan with open arms?

Are pigs flying now? I hadn't noticed.

Saudi Arabia will allow former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif to return to exile in the kingdom after he was deported from Islamabad within hours of his arrival on Monday, a Saudi source said.

Via Reuters.

Residents say foreign raid kills dozens of Afghans

I certainly hope the Brits are right about this, but with six family members in hospital with shrapnel wounds it sounds like the Afghans may be telling the truth.

Afghanistan (Reuters) - Residents of a Taliban-controlled town in southern Afghanistan said on Sunday dozens of civilians including women and children had been killed in aerial bombing.

British and American forces confirmed there had been fighting in the area but the British denied any air strikes occurred there late on Saturday, while the U.S. military was making checks.

There was no way of independently verifying the accounts.

...

At least six wounded civilians were brought to a hospital in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand.

They belonged to the family of Ghulam Mohammad and included three men, two women and a child, said Rahmatullah Hanafi, the head of Emergency hospital where the group was treated.

He said all had shrapnel wounds and one of the women was in a critical condition.

Mohammad said eight of his family members, including children, were also killed in the attack, which he said went on for several hours.

...

"So far between 60 killed and wounded people have been recovered and there are people who are trapped under collapsed houses," Mohammad told Reuters outside the hospital

...

The British military which has the largest force in Helmand, said there were no air strikes launched in the area.

"There was not an air strike in that area last night. Coalition forces were engaged by the Taliban and there was a contact and a firefight, but no close air support dropped anything," a British military spokeswoman in Helmand said.

Via Reuters.